Hinge for a piece of furniture

ABSTRACT

A hinge for a piece of furniture having a body and a door which is movable relative to the body between an open and a closed position. The hinge has a housing which is to be recessed into the door and which is formed in a surface with a recess and with at least one lateral chamber. A hinge arm is mounted in the recess for movement about a pivot axis normal to its elongation and extends in part out of the recess and beyond the housing for connection with the furniture body. A rocker member is mounted in the recess for rocking movement about an axis extending parallel to the pivot axis, and has a part projecting into the chamber. A spring is received in the chamber engaging the housing and the part and being movable passed a dead-center position between respective end positions in response to the door moving towards the open and closed positions, respectively.

United States Patent Sewing et al.

[ HINGE FOR A PIECE OF FURNITURE [75] Inventors: Gerhard Sewing, Lohne; Jiirgen Bachor, Kirchlengern, both of Germany [73] Assignee: Paul Hettich & Co., Kirchlengern,

Germany [22] Filed: Oct. 24, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 411,589

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Italy l6/l63 675,751 ll/l964 [451 July 8,1975

304,701 9/1968 Sweden l6/l63 Primary Examiner-Paul R. Gilliam Assistant ExaminerDoris L. Troutman Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Michael S. Striker [57] ABSTRACT A hinge for a piece of furniture having a body and a door which is movable relative to the body between an open and a closed position. The hinge has a housing which is to be recessed into the door and which is formed in a surface with a recess and with at least one lateral chamber. A hinge arm is mounted in the recess for movement about a pivot axis normal to its elongation and extends in part out of the recess and beyond the housing for connection with the furniture body. A rocker member is mounted in the recess for rocking movement about an axis extending parallel to the pivot axis, and has a part projecting into the chamber. A spring is received in the chamber engaging the housing and the part and being movable passed a dead-center position between respective end positions in response to the door moving towards the open and closed positions, respectively.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures HINGE FOR A PIECE OF FURNITURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a hinge, and more particularly to a furniture hinge. Still more particularly, the invention relates to a hinge for a piece of furniture having a body and a door which is movable relative to the body between an open and a closed position.

It is known to provide hinges of this type which have a housing that can be recessed into the door of a piece of furniture, and a hinge arm which is pivoted in the housing and is to be connected with the body of the piece of furniture. Mounted in the housing is a rocker member and the construction is such that as the door of the piece of furniture moves towards the open or towards the closed position, the hinge will either urge it to fully open position or urge it to fully closed position. ln the prior-art construction of this type the rocker member in particular must be rather large and the overall construction is such as to be very bulky and unsightly. This is, of course, very undesirable in a piece of furniture, both from an aesthetic point of view and because the available space often is not sufficient for so bulky a piece of hardware.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is a general object of the invention to provide a hinge of the type in question, which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.

More particularly, it is an object of the present inven tion to provide such a hinge which is considerably smaller in its overall dimensions than those known from the prior art, and which is simple in its construction.

An additional object of the invention is to provide such a hinge which can be readily installed.

In keeping with these objects, and with others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of the invention resides in a hinge for a piece of furniture having a body and a door which is movable relative to the body between an open and a closed position. The hinge comprises a housing adapted to be recessed into the door and having a surface formed with a recess and with at least one lateral chamber. A hinge arm is mounted in this recess for movement about a pivot axis normal to its elongation and extending in part out of the recess and beyond the housing for connection with the body. A rocker member is mounted in the recess for rocking movement about a rocking axis extending parallel to the pivot axis, and the rocker member has a part which projects into the chamber. A spring is received in the chamber in engagement with the housing and with the part. This spring is movable past a dead'center position between respective end positions in response to the door moving towards the open and closed positions, respectively.

The hinge according to the present invention is substantially less bulky than the one according to the prior art, because in contrast to the prior-art construction it does not require that the rocker member extend to the mutually opposite sides of the rocking axis, being engaged at one side of the axis by a spring and having its cam portions which cooperate with the hinge arm, being located at the opposite side of the axis. Since these features are avoided in the construction according to the present invention, it is less pretty and therefore not only aesthetically more pleasing but capable of being used in circumstances where the prior-art construetions could not be employed due to lack of space.

The housing of the hinge according to the present invention is of substantially circular outline, as is the one of the prior-art hinge. However, where space in the housing of the prior-art hinge was wasted and not gainfully utilized, the present invention employs this space for the chamber or chambers in which the aforementioned parts of the rocker member are located, and wherein the springs are received which cooperate with these parts. These chambers actually existed already in the prior-art housing, but were provided only for purposes of reducing the weight of the housing, having no functional purpose at all.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view, partially sectioned, illustrating the major portion of a hinge according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective, illustrating the complete hinge according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on line Ill-Ill of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section taken on line IVlV of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a section taken on line V\/ of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:

In FIGS. 1-5 we have illustrated one embodiment of our novel hinge. It will be seen that the hinge has a housing 1 which is of circular or cylindrical configuration, and a hinge arm 2 which is to be connected with the body of a piece of furniture. The piece of furniture is not shown, but should be understood to have a furniture body to which the hinge arm 2 is to be connected, and a door which is to be hingedly movable relative to the body between open and closed positions, and into an inner side of which the housing 1 is to be recessed. A pair of pivot arms 3, 4 are provided which are pivotally connected with the hinge arm 2 and extend into a recess 5 formed in a surface of the housing 1, wherein they are mounted. A further recess 6 is formed in the housing 1, communicating with the recess 5 as shown in FIG. 2, and lateral chambers 7 are also formed in the housing 1, being located at opposite lateral sides of the recess 5 (see FIG. 2). The chambers 7 are separated from the recess 5 by wall portions 8, and in the region of these walls portions the housing 1 is formed with partial seats 9 for pivot stubs or pins 14 of a rocker member 10, which is to be pivotably or rockably journalled in the seats 9. The rocker member 10 is provided with cam portions ll, 12 which extend into the recess 5, embracing a curved portion 13 of the arm 3 and engaging this portion during the terminal part of the movement of the door to closed position, and during the initial part of the movement of the door towards open position.

A cover portion 16 is provided (FIG. 2) which is formed with additional partial seats 15, so that each partial seat 9 forms with one of the partial seats 15 a complete seat for one of the pins or pivot stubs 14. The cover 16 is provided with a projection 17 which can enter with a snap action into a depression 18 formed in the housing l, and to enhance the yieldable characten istic of the cover 16 in the region of the projection 17, the cover 16 is formed with a slot 19 as seen in FIG. 2. In addition, the cover 16 is provided with strip-shaped cover portions 20 which when the cover 16 is connected with the housing 1, overlie and cover the respective chambers 7.

The free ends of the cover portions 20 are provided with projections 21, as seen in FIG. 2, and these projections are receivable with a snap action in respective depressions 22 of the housing 1.

Parts 23 of the rocker member are received in the respective chambers 7, and have free ends which each engage a pin 24 that is also located in the respective chamber 7. in the illustrated embodiment these pins 24 are biassed by respective helical springs 25 surrounding the respective pins 24 and bearing at one end against the housing 1 and at the opposite end against a flange 27 formed on the respective pin 24 adjacent the parts 23. Thus, the pins 24 are urged against the parts 23, and in the illustrated embodiment the pins 24 will be seen to be provided with head portions received in depressions formed in the parts 23, although other possibilities evidently exist.

It is clear from the drawing that the rocker member 10 can be readily inserted into the housing 1, and can be rockably mounted in the cooperating seats 9, for turning or rocking movement about a rocking axis which extends in parallelism with the pivot axis for the hinge arm 2. Since two of the pins 24 and springs 25 are provided in cooperation with the rocker member 10, the individual springs are not subject to particularly scvere stresses and can be expected to have a long life. The upper end position of the rocker member 10 is determined by an abutment 27 formed on the housing 1.

ln operation of the illustrated hinge, which has been illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3-5 in the position which it assumes when the door ofa piece of furniture is open, it will be appreciated that as the door moves towards closed position so that the hinge arm 2 begins to enter into the recess 5, the curved portion 13 so acts upon the cam projections ll, 12 that the rocker member will perform a partial rocking movement. This causes the parts 23, which are spring biassed by the springs 25, to move past a dead-center position. In other words, the parts 23 as well as the pins 24 and springs 25 move from one end position (which is illustrated in FIG. 5) past a dead-center position to the opposite end position. The force exerted as a result of this is transmitted via the parts 23 to the cam projections ll, 12 and by the same to the portion 13. During the reverse movement of the door with reference to the body of the piece of furniture, the opposite operation takes place. It will be appreciated that as the door moves towards closed position, it will be urged in the final part of its movement to closed position into the fully closed position by the force exerted via the springs 25. Conversely, during the first part of its movement towards open position, this movement is opposed by the springs 25 until the latter, as well as the pins 24 and the parts 23, have moved past the dead-center position.

it is of course possible to replace the pins 24 and helical springs 25 with leaf springs, in which case each leaf spring would have to be provided at that end which is to cooperate with the respective part 23 with a rolled portion replacing the heads of the pins 24 and being received in the recess of the respective parts 23.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a hinge for a piece of furniture, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can be applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore. such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended:

l. A hinge for a piece of furniture having a body and a door which is movable relative to said body between an open and a closed position, comprising a housing adapted to be recessed into said door and having a surface formed with a recess and with at least one lateral chamber open to said surface; a hinge arm mounted in said recess for movement about a pivot axis normal to its elongation and extending in part out of said recess and beyond said housing for connection with said body; a rocker member mounted in said recess for rocking movement about a rocking axis extending parallel to said pivot axis, said rocker member having a part pro jecting into said chamber and said rocker member having cam portions which project from the region of said rocking axis towards said pivot axis; and a spring received in said chamber and engaging said housing and said part, said spring being movable past a dead-center position between respective end positions in response to said door moving towards said open and closed positions, respectively.

2. A hinge as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing has an additional lateral chamber opposite and transversely spaced from the first-mentioned chamber, said rocker member having an additional part projecting into said additional chamber, and an additional spring similar to the first-mentioned spring being provided in said additional chamber.

3. A hinge defined in claim 2, wherein said parts also have respective cam portions projecting from the region of said rocking axis towards said pivot axis laterally of said roller member.

4. A hinge as defined in claim 2, said housing including a snap-in cover for said recess, and said rocker member having a pair of axially aligned pins which define with one another said rocking axis; and wherein said housing and said cover are each provided with re- 19%: .rive partial seats for the respective pins.

5. A hinge as defined in claim 4, said housing cornprising wall portions which separate the respective chambers from said recess; and wherein the partial seats in said housing are formed in said wall portions.

3,893,209 6 6. A hinge as defined in claim 4, wherein said cover tive free ends provided with projections; and wherein comprises cover portions which Cover thfi respective said housing is provided with depressions in which said lateral chambers.

7. A hinge as defined in claim 6, wherein said cover portions are substantially strip-shaped and have respec- 5 projections are receivable.

l *l i 

1. A hinge for a piece of furniture having a body and a door which is movable relative to said body between an open and a closed position, comprising a housing adapted to be recessed into said door and having a surface formed with a recess and with at least one lateral chamber open to said surface; a hinge arm mounted in said recess for movement about a pivot axis normal to its elongation and extending in part out of said recess and beyond said housing for connection with said body; a rocker member mounted in said recess for rocking movement about a rocking axis extending parallel to said pivot axis, said rocker member having a part projecting into said chamber and said rocker member having cam portions which project from the region of said rocking axis towards said pivot axis; and a spring received in said chamber and engaging said housing and said part, said spring being movable past a dead-center position between respective end positions in response to said door moving towards said open and closed positions, respectively.
 2. A hinge as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing has an additional lateral chamber opposite and transversely spaced from the first-mentioned chamber, said rocker member having an additional part projecting into said additional chamber, and an additional spring similar to the first-mentioned spring being provided in said additional chamber.
 3. A hinge defined in claim 2, wherein said parts also have respective cam portions projecting from the region of said rocking axis towards said pivot axis laterally of said roller member.
 4. A hinge as defined in claim 2, said housing including a snap-in cover for said recess, and said rocker member having a pair of axially aligned pins which define with one another siad rocking axis; and wherein said housing and said cover are each provided with respective partial seats for the respective pins.
 5. A hinge as defined in claim 4, said housing comprising wall portions which separate the respective chambers from said recess; and wherein the partial seats in said housing are formed in said wall portions.
 6. A hinge as defined in claim 4, wherein said cover comprises cover portions which cover the respective lateral chambers.
 7. A hinge as defined in claim 6, wherein said cover portions are substantially strip-shaped and have respective free ends provided with projections; and wherein said housing is provided with depressions in which said projections are receivable. 